during the construction phase. The groundwater drawdown would begin to develop
mnore fully by
project year 4, and would be almost fully expressed by project year 7. Lake
impacts, therefore,
would be expected to develop early in the operations period.

Following the end of mine pumping, there would be an initial, rapid recovery
period during which the
groundwater would flow into the deeper central part of the cone of depression.
This would result in a
flattening of the groundwater drawdown cone, although the level would remain
below that of
premining conditions. After about 8 years, the groundwater levels would return
to very near their
original levels. All related surface water quantity impacts would disappear
by this time. About 30
years would be required for a complete recovery to premining groundwater
levels.

Impacts to Lake Fisheries - The expected drawdown on Little Sand Lake would
dewater most of the
preferred spawning habitat for largemouth bass, bluegill, pumkinseed and
black crappie. The
drawdown would likely create fish winterkill conditions. Reductions in fish
biomass proportional to
reductions in lake acreage would also be expected. Fish in Deep Hole Lake
would experience little
change in species composition and a minor decrease in biomass with the expected
lake declines.
Fisheries in Duck Lake would not be significantly affected by the expected
drawdown.

Impacts to Macroinvertebrates - Declines in lake levels would dewater shoreline
areas of macrophyte
growth and rock/rubble substrate. These habitats are the most diverse and
productive
macroinvertebrate habitats. While macrophytes would grow in new areas after
a lake drawdown,
substantial losses of macroinvertebrates would result from reductions in
lake areas.

Impacts to macroinvertebrates would be proportional to the amount of productive
habitat lost. The
drawdown on Little Sand Lake would expose most of the rock/rubble and macrophyte
areas.
Similarly, the decline on Skunk Lake would expose substantial portions of
the lakebed. Deep Hole
Lake would lose approximately 20% of the rock/rubble areas and 35% of the
macrophyte areas.
Macroinvertebrates in Duck Lake would not be adversely affected.

Impacts to Wetlands - Lower portions of existing wetlands contiguous to Skunk
and Deep Hole Lakes
would be dewatered by expected declines in lake levels. Such dewatering would
result in oxidation of
organic sediments in these wetlands and minor release of stored nutrients
to adjacent waterbodies
and vegetation. Drier, oxygenated wetland sediments also would result in
a fairly rapid invasion of
open wetlands by shrubs and trees. The sizable bog wetland adjacent to Duck
Lake is not expected to
be adversely impacted by the expected reductions in lake level. Existing
forested wetlands would
undergo less visible vegetation changes, since trees in these wetlands are
tolerant of drier
conditions. Such wetland areas between Duck, Deep Hole, and Little Sand Lakes
and immediately
downstream from Little Sand Lake may be impacted by a decrease in surface
water discharge from
these lakes.

Although existing lakeside wetlands would likely be dewatered, the lowered
lake levels would create
new wetland acreages for Little Sand, Deep Hole and Skunk Lakes. For Little
Sand Lake, expected
reductions in lake levels would increase the shallow littoral zone over two
times the present com-
parable acreage. The lake level reduction would be more conducive to emergent
and submergent
wetland establishment. The same situation would likely happen in Deep Hole
Lake, although less
shallow water acreage with muck bottom would be created under expected impact
conditions.

The Skunk Lake open water area would decrease substantially. All of the lake
area would be shallow
enough to support emergent wetland vegetation.

.mpacts to Water Quality - Little or no change in lake water quality would
occur as a result of
increased seepage.

Impacts to Recreation, Navigation and Aesthetics - Declines in lake levels
would alter the size, shape
and shal.ow water characteristics of Little Sand, Skunk and Deep Hole Lakes.
Major reductions in
size and depth of Little Sand Lake would reduce boating and fishing opportunities
and would be
considered aesthetically unpleasant. Deep Hole Lake would be somewhat smaller.
Both lakes might
have increased turbidity due to wave action on newly exposed muck substrates.
Skunk Lake would



lose most of its open water areas.



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